The security forces had launched their final assault on the militants, who were holed up in an abandoned building near the camp.

Indian soldiers carry a box containing bulletproof shields near the site of the gunbattle on Monday.
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Danish Ismail/Reuters

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were killed on Tuesday, the second day of an encounter with security forces near a camp of the Central Reserve Police Force in Srinagar, Director General of Police SP Vaid said. The gunfight has ended and “a combing operation is on,” Greater Kashmir quoted an official as saying. Kashmir Inspector-General of Police SP Pani told reporters that the security forces had recovered arms and ammunition.

“While one was gunned down as he came out of the under construction building to get into another adjacent building, the other was trapped and killed inside the building that they took refuge in on Monday,” the Hindustan Times quoted an unidentified police officer as saying.

A constable of the paramilitary force had died and a policeman was injured in the gunfight on Monday. A CRPF jawan injured during Tuesday’s operation is “completely out of danger”, Pani added.

Two bodies of terrorists recovered so far with weapons. Well done boys by neutralising Terrorists without collateral damage.

Two terrorists have been killed. Arms & ammunition are recovered. It was Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit. One CRPF jawan has been injured but is completely out of danger: Kashmir IGP SP Pani on Srinagar's Karan Nagar encounter pic.twitter.com/9p8sjxzdWj

Security forces had launched their final assault on the terrorists on Tuesday morning. The Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group had claimed that its militants were involved in the encounter. “We are operating cautiously to avoid any collateral damage to citizens and property,” CRPF Inspector General Zulfiqar Hasan had told ANI.

Jammu & Kashmir: Intermittent firing continues between security personnel and terrorists at CRPF camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar. One CRPF personnel lost his life in the attack on CRPF camp yesterday.

Before dawn on Monday, a sentry at the camp had noticed two armed men try to enter, but after he opened fire and foiled their attempt, they went inside an abandoned building nearby. Security forces then launched a search operation.

All roads leading to the locality were sealed and intermittent exchanges of fire were reported. The local administration has suspended 3G and 4G services in Srinagar.

The CRPF camp is located very close to Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, where a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant killed a policeman and escaped custody on February 6. The attack came two days after suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed militants attacked the Sunjuwan Army camp in Jammu.

Srinagar: Wreath laying ceremony of CRPF Jawan MM Khan of 49 battalion who lost his life in encounter with terrorists at CRPF camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar yesterday pic.twitter.com/6IIxO9jKj1

Another attack foiled in Jammu

Meanwhile, security forces began a search operation on Tuesday morning in Jammu’s Raipur Domana area after Army personnel foiled a suspected militant attack at their camp, PTI reported. The militants fled, Army Spokesperson Devender Anand was quoted as saying.

Two militants are believed to have approached the main gate of the camp around 4.30 am and fired at the sentry post, after which the operation began, a senior police officer said.

“An investigation has started and a search operation is under way to track down the fleeing terrorists,” the official told PTI, adding that an alert has been sounded in the area.

The national emblem of India; an open parachute and crossed lances – this triad of symbols representing the nation, excellence in training and valor respectively are held together by an elite title in the Indian army – The President’s Bodyguard (PBG).

The PBG badge is worn by one of the oldest cavalry units in the India army. In 1773, Governor Warren Hastings, former Governor General of India, handpicked 50 troopers. Before independence, this unit was referred to by many titles including Troops of Horse Guards and Governor General’s Body Guards (GGBG). In 1950, the unit was named The President’s Bodyguard and can be seen embroidered in the curved maroon shoulder titles on their current uniforms.

The President’s Bodyguard’s uniform adorns itself with proud colours and symbols of its 245 year-old-legacy. Dating back to 1980, the ceremonial uniform consists of a bright red long coat with gold girdles and white breeches, a blue and gold ceremonial turban with a distinctive fan and Napoleon Boots with spurs. Each member of the mounted unit carries a special 3-meter-long bamboo cavalry lance, decorated by a red and white pennant. A sheathed cavalry sabre is carried in in the side of the saddle of each trooper.

While common perception is that the PBG mainly have ceremonial duties such as that of being the President’s escort during Republic Day parade, the fact is that the members of the PBG are highly trained. Handpicked by the President’s Secretariat from mainstream armored regiments, the unit assigns a task force regularly for Siachen and UN peace keeping operations. Moreover, the cavalry members are trained combat parachutists – thus decorating the PBG uniform with a scarlet Para Wings badge that signifies that these troopers are a part of the airborne battalion of the India Army.

Since their foundation, the President’s Guard has won many battle honors. In 1811, they won their first battle honor ‘Java’. In 1824, they sailed over Kalla Pani for the first Burmese War and earned the second battle honour ‘Ava’. The battle of Maharajapore in 1843 won them their third battle honor. Consequently, the PBG fought in the main battles of the First Sikh War and earned four battle honours. Post-independence, the PBG served the country in the 1962 Indo-China war and the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

The PBG, one of the senior most regiments of the Indian Army, is a unique unit. While the uniform is befitting of its traditional and ceremonial role, the badges that augment those threads, tell the story of its impressive history and victories.

How have they managed to maintain their customs for more than 2 centuries? A National Geographic exclusive captures the PBG’s untold story. The documentary series showcases the discipline that goes into making the ceremonial protectors of the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces.

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The National Geographic exclusive is a landmark in television and is being celebrated by the #untoldstory contest. The contest will give 5 lucky winners an exclusive pass to the pre-screening of the documentary with the Hon’ble President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. You can also nominate someone you think deserves to be a part of the screening. Follow #UntoldStory on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to participate.

This article was produced by Scroll marketing team on behalf of National Geographic and not by the Scroll editorial team.